Fire in SBI branch office, strong room safe

Phulbani: Several assets were reduced to ashes after fire hit the State Bank of India (SBI)’s Nuasahi Market branch office in Phulbani town on Sunday morning.

However, there has been no damage of the strong room where the cash was kept.

Reports said the locals noticed smoke billowing out of the SBI office building in the morning and immediately informed the fire brigade and the bank officials.

Following information, two fire brigade units rushed to the bank. It took nearly two hours for the firemen to bring the fire under control.

“I saw the fire coming out of the SBI office building at about 6.15 AM and immediate rang up the branch manager and the fire brigade. Most of the assets including the air-conditioners, computers, tables and chairs have been gutted. I think short-circuit might be the cause of the fire,” said Prasant Mishra”, a local.

Talking to media persons, branch manager Susant Kumar Muduli said while equipments and assets like the computers, air-conditioners and cash counters have been completely gutted, there has been no damage to the documents and strong room.

“It will take nearly two weeks to make the bank operational,” he added.

Assistant Fire Officer, Phulbani, Kunja Bihari Jena said by the time the fire brigade reached the spot, the fire had engulfed the building.

“We entered into the building after flushing out the smoke and detected the origin from where the fire had spread. It was the electrical short-circuit which triggered the fire. Barring all electric equipments like the computers, inverters and air-conditioners which have been reduced to ashes, there has been no damage in the strong room where the cash was kept. We are still ventilating the smoke which is still inside the building. After clearing the smoke, we will thoroughly check every electrical points to check whether there is any possibility of fire,” Jena said.

“The extent of damage can only be assesses by the bank officials.